Ahmed hasn't noticed a big increase in his energy bills because the London flat he rents is a newly built "eco block" and he spends most of his time out socialising and working.

He drives a two-seater electric car which be bought because the showroom told him the government would give him £5,000 off the price and the car is exempt from the £50 daily Congestion Charge across Greater London. Although he doesn't have a garage , the fact London was chosen a decade ago as a "core electric vehicle city" means charging stations for his car are virtually ubiquitous near his flat and office. His old university friends telecommuting from smaller towns regularly complain that they're excluded from the "electric revolution" because they still don't have enough charging posts.

Amhed continues to take two flights a year for holidays in the sun, because the cost of air travel hasn't risen in real terms for a decade. He is a huge fan of prime minister Ed Miliband, who he respects for protecting air travel from carbon taxes since he said way back in 2009: "I don't want to have a situation where only rich people can afford to fly."

Family

Thomas, 43, and Janet, 42, parents of Alex, 10, and Gemma, 8

Despite working in one of the new "green industries" overseeing the installation of smart meters, Thomas has mixed feelings about the last decade. The family's draughty 19th-century house meant their heating and electricity bills have increased considerably as a result of energy prices rising, partly because of the Russian gas supply crisis of 2015 and partly to pay for the thousands of new offshore wind turbines built in the past few years. As high earners, Thomas and Janet weren't eligible for the subsidised loft and wall insulation some of their friends enjoyed nearly 10 years ago.

Their transport costs have also gone up, as Janet commutes to work by train and has seen her rail fare increase by around 7% every year, partly to pay for the new high-speed network and electrification programme. The oil price spikes in 2019 hurt their wallet too, with the new petrol price of nearly £2 a litre meaning the family has cut back on some after-school classes for the kids and replaced them with online courses.

Thomas is considering cutting their costs by trading in their low-emission diesel for one of the new subsidised long-range electric cars. Janet has organised a site visit from a solar company to see if the family should pay to install solar photovoltaic panels. A friend who already has solar PV told her that the government's clean energy cashback department "sends me a cheque for hundreds of pounds every year."

Retired couple

Charles, 73, and Lois, 75

Pensioners Charles and Lois have slowly been won round by the arguments for "going green". They initially campaigned against a wind farm built near their town in 2014, which they resented because they believed it was responsible for the energy bill rises they had seen at the two bedroom flat they own.

But their attitudes began to change a year later when they took out a low interest government loan — sold to them as a "green mortgage" — which they used to pay to have their windows upgraded to double glazing, their doors draught-sealed, their cavity walls filled and their loft lagged. Their conversion from sceptics to supporters came when their grandson, an unemployed engineer, was recruited by a wave energy company in Cornwall.

They don't own a car and have noticed little difference in their transport costs, thanks to the affordable local hybrid bus service and their use of high-definition video conversations to keep in touch with long-distance family members.